Holding a UAE passport comes with a host of benefits, like visa-free access to many countries around the world. With a different look, price and global power ranking, here's how Canada's and the UAE's passports compare.
Price
While Canada's passport was recently ranked as one of the most expensive in the world, the UAE passport comes in at the other end of the spectrum as the world's most affordable passport.
According to Australian travel insurance comparison site Compare the Market, which compared the cost of a passport in various countries to find out which nation has the most valuable passport in the world, the UAE has the cheapest passport in the world, ringing up at around CA$24.
In comparison, Canada's passport is almost seven times the price of the UAE passport, costing holders $160.
The UAE passport. Tanaonte | Dreamstime
Power
While Canada's passport ranks among the top 10 most powerful, the UAE passport holds the spot as the world's most powerful passport.
According to the Passport Index, the UAE passport has a mobility score of 179, signifying the number of countries holders can access visa-free or with visa on arrival, Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or an eVisa issued within three days.
Canada's passport, in comparison, has a mobility score of 172.
In terms of visa-free access, the UAE passport grants holders the ability to travel to 126 countries visa-free, compared to Canada's 118.
The new Canadian passport. Osa855 | Dreamstime
Look
Like Canada's passport, the UAE passport features a gold design on a navy blue cover.
The UAE passport features the emblem of the United Arab Emirates, which features a golden falcon with a disk in the centre with the shape of the UAE flag bordered by seven stars representing the seven emirates of the federation. The falcon has seven tail feathers and holds in its talons a parchment with the name of the federation in Arabic.
Canada's passport features its coat of arms, which displays the royal emblems of England, Scotland, Ireland and France.
Canada's new passport, which was unveiled last year, also features a large outline of a maple leaf on the cover.
Like the new Canadian passport, the UAE passport also features a polycarbonate ID page, rather than a paper ID page, as well as security features like a hologram logo, 3D embossed printing and a transparent window bearing the state emblem.
Validity
Previously, the UAE passport differed from Canada's in that it was only available for a validity of five years, whereas Canada's passport can be valid for five or 10 years.
However, in March, the United Arab Emirates announced that Emirati passports are now valid for 10 years for people aged 21 and older.
With some exceptions, in Canada, passport applicants can select the validity period they want for their adult passport. The five-year passport costs $120, a $40 discount from the 10-year version.
A child passport, however, which is for those 15 years old and younger, is only valid for a maximum of five years — although it only costs $57.
UAE passports. Hamzeh Shatnawi | Dreamstime
Application
A UAE passport is not an easy one to get.
One of the ways you can get a UAE passport is by being a UAE citizen, although UAE citizenship is only open to nominated non-nationals, such as investors, doctors, inventors and scientists, who must be nominated by federal entities.
Others who can apply for a UAE passport are dependent wives of Emirati citizens and newborn babies of UAE citizens.
Other conditions to becoming a citizen include taking the oath of allegiance and loyalty to the UAE, committing to abide by the UAE's laws and informing the UAE government entity in case of acquiring or losing any other citizenship.
In Canada, you must be a Canadian citizen to get a passport, and you don't automatically become a citizen when you marry a Canadian.
To become a Canadian citizen you must be a permanent resident, have lived in Canada for three out of the last five years, have filed your taxes (if you need to), prove your language skills, pass a citizenship test and take the oath of citizenship.
Now you know!
